Transforming growth factor-alpha secretion by epidermal growth factor-dependent human tumor cell lines.
Pairs of cell lines from spontaneous human tumors (cervical adenocarcinoma, melanoma, and synovial sarcoma) were established using serum-free culture conditions with and without exogenous epidermal growth factor (EGF). EGF-adapted cultures of melanoma and cervical adenocarcinoma origin secreted higher levels of bioactive transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) when compared to cultures maintained in the absence of EGF. Depletion of EGF for these EGF-adapted cultures resulted in growth arrest. In contrast, the sarcoma cell lines did not secrete TGF-alpha regardless of the culture conditions but EGF significantly stimulated proliferation of these cells in short-term assays. We show that exogenous EGF induces TGF-alpha production and supports proliferation of tumor cells of various tissue origin but is not essential for in vitro growth factor-deprived conditions.
Singletary
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SE
Department of Surgery, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030.
Williams
N N
NN
Rodeck
U
U
Larry
L
L
Tucker
S
S
Spitzer
G
G
Herlyn
M
M
D002277:Carcinoma; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D003470:Culture Media; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008545:Melanoma; D012509:Sarcoma; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
D003470:Culture Media; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor